Funeral procession, services today for fallen firefighter

MARANA, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Billy Warneke, one of the 19 firefighters who died in the Yarnell Hill Fire near Prescott, will be laid to rest today in Marana.

The public is invited to come out along the procession route and pay their final respects. The procession is scheduled to start at about 3:15 p.m., and the route is more than six miles long.

The route starts at the Marana Regional Airport, where Warneke's body will arrive on a Blackhawk helicopter from Prescott. Warneke's body will then be transported to the Marana Mortuary and Cemetery at 12146 West Barnett Road, where the funeral will be.

Similar to Tuesday's service in Prescott Valley, firefighters and first responders from all over the state will be there to pay their respects.

The procession will include more than 100 first responder vehicles; it will be a traditional firefighter and Marine Corps service, as Warneke was both. An honor guard will be on hand for the service, which will feature a 21-gun salute and a fly-over.

The procession and funeral are open to the public, but the organizers are expecting a lot of people to attend so it is recommended that those who plan to attend get there early.